Knife Angel statue arrives in Haverhill

An angel sculpture made from thousands of knives has arrived in Haverhill Market Square.

The Knife Angel is made from over 100,000 seized blades, and was created to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour including knife crime, domestic assault, sexual abuse and county lines.

The tragic event that precipitated the Knife Angel’s visit to Haverhill was the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Harley Barfield in 2023.

The installation will be the first time that the 27ft (8.2 metres) statue has appeared in East Anglia.

Haverhill Town Mayor David Smith:

"To have The Knife Angel come to Haverhill would be an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of knife crime, and to acknowledge the sad loss of Harley Barfield in 2023.

"Being able to host the powerful and striking sculpture in Haverhill will provoke discussions and serve as a reminder to educate people on the impact knife crime can have on a family and the wider community."

A formal ceremony to mark the arrival of the Knife Angel will take place on Market Square on Wednesday 4 September 2024.

The event will be attended by local dignitaries and police, and will involve speeches and information about the National Anti-Violence Memorial, followed by refreshments at Haverhill Arts Centre.

To help bring the statue to Haverhill, a GoFundMe page was created, which has since raised more than £2,400, as well as fundraising events including a bake sale and raffle.

The project to bring the Knife Angel to Haverhill has been supported by Haverhill Town Council.